Luka Doncic had Shaquille O’Neal singing after his first-half performance against the Minnesota Timberwolves. How? By being a stellar performer on the biggest stage. Doncic torched the Wolves’ defense once again, scoring 22 in the first half. And when Shaq saw him taking on Rudy Gobert, someone he has previously called the ‘worst player’, he felt ecstatic. “He is jangling with him Ernie,” he excitedly commented on one of those Gobert-Doncic matchups.
It has become a theme now. Last season, it was a game-winner over the French center. Ironically, that also occurred in Game 2 of the Mavs-Wolves playoff series. Nothing seems to have changed in a years time. On one of the possessions, Luka Doncic unleashed an array of tricks, leaving the Wolves’ defensive pillar lost. Obviously, Doncic made the bucket.
And from saying Gobert can’t guard him, he is now trying to help the Timberwolves. “Sub him out,” he yelled towards their bench. But it’s hard to criticize the shot blocker in that situation. Luka Doncic had an electric first-half performance, leading the Lakers just as he did in Game 1 of the series.
The only difference is that now the rest of his teammates are contributing immensely towards capitalizing on his brilliance. At halftime, the Lakers led by 15. That advantage keeps growing as the game progresses. LeBron James and Austin Reaves have combined for 25 points with a fourth quarter still to play.
Luka Doncic cooked Rudy Gobert then yelled “sub him out” pic.twitter.com/kwAa4Vy1sp
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) April 23, 2025
On the other hand, the Minnesota Timberwolves have a huge challenge ahead of them. They do hold a pivotal advantage after their Game 1 win. But in the postseason, a few fixes can dictate the outcome of the series. After getting mauled the same way they did to the Lakers in Game 1, Anthony Edwards and Co. can’t follow the same strategy.
The Lakers’ successful strategy changes
JJ Redick was brimming with disappointment after the Lakers’ Game 1 loss. He felt the team’s offense was stagnant. “We just have to do a lot of things better, and it starts with playing harder and being more organized,” the Lakers coach said about the expectations for Game 2. And his team took that message to heart.
They posted 34 points in the first quarter, more than they could manage in any of the quarters in Game 1. Doncic was at the helm of it all. But unlike the first game, the Lakers’ offense looked fluid tonight. There was a lot of movement off the ball, which the Wolves’ power-packed defense failed to react to appropriately.
But aside from their success on the offensive end, the Lakers’ defensive improvements are what stood out.
For the Timberwolves, both Naz Reid and Jaden McDaniels played a massive role in securing the shocking Game 1 win. The Lakers didn’t want that to repeat. So far, neither of them has scored in double digits. Likewise, if the Wolves want to unsettle the Lakers’ current tactics, deploying Anthony Edwards heavily will hold kthe ey.
Unless Ant Man can’t apply pressure to their set defense, finding spacing won’t be easy. Julius Randle will also need to consistently attack the paint to force defenders’ movements. Only with their combined efforts will the other Wolves players get their opportunity to shine. Because right now, the Lakers seem to be challenging the tandem.
Can they beat the drastically improved Lakers defense, or is Game 2 the silhouette for the entire series?
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